Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Jun 21st 2008, 3:30 am
#2
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Problem here Dean is most of us could do with a guide to driving back in Blighty rather than Whorlando! The one that always gets me is coming off a single track road on to a main road. Well that and all the bloody insular blighters staring at me as I simultaneously stuff my face with donuts, drink a coffee, talk on the cell phone and read the paper as I'm driving along. Just coz they can't bloody do it is no reason for us experienced expats not to.
Jun 21st 2008, 4:55 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
an FCO survey has shown that when driving abroad, nearly a third (31%) have driven on the wrong side of the road and more than one in 10 (11%) have driven the wrong way round a roundabout
Jun 21st 2008, 8:31 am
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 13,111
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Britain should cut over to right hand side driving ... not to be like the US, but rather, the rest of Europe. Of course, it will never happen... Sweden did it in 1967 (changed from left to right) 
This would have the pleasant side effect of making it easier for everyone else to visit the UK and drive there, and make it easier for Brit's to drive in most other countries (yeah, I know Australia, India, and Japan all drive on the left side of the road but - how many Brit's visit those places compared to Europe and the US ...? )
Here's how countries stand on the issue: http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html#countrytable
This would have the pleasant side effect of making it easier for everyone else to visit the UK and drive there, and make it easier for Brit's to drive in most other countries (yeah, I know Australia, India, and Japan all drive on the left side of the road but - how many Brit's visit those places compared to Europe and the US ...? )
Here's how countries stand on the issue: http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html#countrytable
Jun 21st 2008, 2:42 pm
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Cornwall >>> Marin, CA >>> Cornwall!
Posts: 740
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Love how they trot out Quentin Wilson as the driving expert.
With his slick hair more like used car spiv!
With his slick hair more like used car spiv!
Jun 21st 2008, 10:10 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: The Big Apple
Posts: 1,834
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Great tips for those with no common sense...which seems to be the majority of us!
Love all those statistics though - always thought that they are like a lamp post to a drunk man - more for support than illumination
Love all those statistics though - always thought that they are like a lamp post to a drunk man - more for support than illumination
Last edited by Big D; Jun 21st 2008 at 10:10 pm. Reason: inability to spell!
Jun 22nd 2008, 2:31 am
#7
trout pout
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 248
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Reminds me of when I was driving in Tasmania after living in the USA for 2 years. I took a left turn and went to drive on the right instead of left as I turned. Unfortunately I was driving straight toward an old couple..... their eyes were wide and white! Luckily I swerved 
.... I slowed down, stuck my head out of the window, and shouted in my best yankie accent "sowwey, I'm Ameri-can" . They nodded and waved me on as they rolled their eyes.
I pissed myself laughing. I still get a laugh to this day when I have a flashback.
PS I am not a yank!
.... I slowed down, stuck my head out of the window, and shouted in my best yankie accent "sowwey, I'm Ameri-can" . They nodded and waved me on as they rolled their eyes.I pissed myself laughing. I still get a laugh to this day when I have a flashback.
PS I am not a yank!
Jun 22nd 2008, 10:56 am
#8
Septic Sprout
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 7,993
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Britain should cut over to right hand side driving ... not to be like the US, but rather, the rest of Europe. Of course, it will never happen... Sweden did it in 1967 (changed from left to right)
This would have the pleasant side effect of making it easier for everyone else to visit the UK and drive there, and make it easier for Brit's to drive in most other countries (yeah, I know Australia, India, and Japan all drive on the left side of the road but - how many Brit's visit those places compared to Europe and the US ...? )
Here's how countries stand on the issue: http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html#countrytable
This would have the pleasant side effect of making it easier for everyone else to visit the UK and drive there, and make it easier for Brit's to drive in most other countries (yeah, I know Australia, India, and Japan all drive on the left side of the road but - how many Brit's visit those places compared to Europe and the US ...? )
Here's how countries stand on the issue: http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html#countrytable
Jun 22nd 2008, 1:25 pm
#9
Unmitigated Gall
Joined: Dec 2006
Location: it's still too dark to tell
Posts: 16,162
Jun 22nd 2008, 5:18 pm
#10
Account Closed
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 16,266
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Here's how countries stand on the issue: http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html#countrytable
Curiously, in Belize they drive on the right.
Jun 22nd 2008, 6:14 pm
#14
Septicity
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 23,762
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
It's not one of those runways where you make a low pass to scatter the sheep before making a quick 180 to land, is it? They're usually marked by a pair of pj bottoms on a pole to act as a windsock.
Jun 22nd 2008, 6:53 pm
#15
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 160
Re: Brits Drive Into Trouble Abroad
Britain should cut over to right hand side driving ... not to be like the US, but rather, the rest of Europe. Of course, it will never happen... Sweden did it in 1967 (changed from left to right)
This would have the pleasant side effect of making it easier for everyone else to visit the UK and drive there, and make it easier for Brit's to drive in most other countries (yeah, I know Australia, India, and Japan all drive on the left side of the road but - how many Brit's visit those places compared to Europe and the US ...? )
Here's how countries stand on the issue: http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html#countrytable
This would have the pleasant side effect of making it easier for everyone else to visit the UK and drive there, and make it easier for Brit's to drive in most other countries (yeah, I know Australia, India, and Japan all drive on the left side of the road but - how many Brit's visit those places compared to Europe and the US ...? )
Here's how countries stand on the issue: http://www.i18nguy.com/driver-side.html#countrytable